Gift bags, boxes, wrapping paper…it all might just be packaging to you, but to me it’s more! I thoroughly enjoy wrapping a gift. Especially when I know that the person receiving it will be just as excited and will appreciate the creativity of the wrap. Of course, not everyone feels the same way I do and that’s ok too. This isn’t to say that occasionally I don’t just wrap a gift and be done with it! We’ve all been there, at the last minute, shoving a present into a gift bag, or a gift certificate into a greeting card. This is just a little glimpse at the fun that I have when I get a chance to do a little extra.

Today, I thought I would share a few of my ‘most frequently used’ products for scrapbooking, aka:papercrafting.

First up, my Sharpie Poster Paint Pen (extra-fine point, water-based, opaque paint marker). This is a fabulous pen for writing on photos or cardstock. I just googled my pen and apparently there is an entire Sharpie world that I was unaware of! Check out their amazing website for all things Sharpie. I have always loved Sharpie markers of all shapes and sizes, colors and tips…but this new knowledge of available products could be quite costly : ) Sharpie products can be found in many stores or online…I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby (in the paint/pen department–not in scrapbooking).

Next up, Thickers. Need I say more? My love for Thickers grows (as does my collection of them). I am proud of myself for finally using them on a regular basis instead of hoarding them in my Thicker drawer (as seen in the picture). Thanks to Project Life, I am finding myself using them more and more. Thickers, by American Crafts, come in just about any color, font, texture and size. They’re addicting & I love them!

And finally, my Zutter Round-it-All corner punch. This is the best corner rounder I have ever used. The price is a bit higher, but so worth it. They describe it as heavy-duty and I would agree! It cuts through everything! I use it all of the time.

So there you have it. Products I would definitely recommend. No, I’m not an expert–just an ordinary girl that likes to scrapbook.

Wow. Strange feeling being back at the keyboard blogging. During the year of not blogging, I longed to have time to sit and blog. Now, here I am and questioning once again that anyone will even read it! I will trust that you’re here because you want to be…so, I will continue to type.

Many of you know that I am a scrapbooking, paper-loving addict. My current form of scrapbooking is inspired by Becky Higgins’ Project Life. If you’ve never heard about this, already struggle with finding time to document your current fast-paced family life, you should check out her site. January 2012 I took the Project Life leap and haven’t looked back!

The images above are a look at how I’ve chosen to do Project Life. I create a layout each week, whether a single layout or a double page layout, just depends on how busy my week was. I’m not good at journaling, so that is what I am attempting to improve. By using these types of page protectors, it’s almost like creating ‘mini layouts’. Each one stands alone, representing a separate event or person, yet (like a puzzle) fits together to create a glimpse of your week–your life. You can choose to simply drop in a few photos, a few mementos and no journaling. Many scrappers choose to include a lot of detailed journaling for each day. You may not have time to do any type of embellishing, or added details–that’s ok too! However you interpret it, is up to you. The goal is to simply record memories, little by little, making it work for you.

There are many scrapbook companies that are creating great products to use in your Project Life albums. Of course, Becky Higgins has her Project Life product line which can get you started. You can see her product line here. Whether you’re new to scrapbooking or an old pro, give it a try! I love it!

I have had a little time to be crafty lately. Here are some highlights.

Paper tape flower in picture above. VERY EASY. I learned how from the Tim Holtz tutorial. You should give it a try!

Above is a glass etching that I finally did. After watching many Cricut tutorials, I was confident enough to give it a try… Very EASY! I am thinking of many more things to etch!

I sent a care package to my nephew that just started college. I wanted to include some homemade cookies. After putting them in a ziploc bag, I placed them in this oatmeal container, to better protect them. I didn’t want to decorate it…after all, he’s a guy. But I did include a handmade tag with it.